College Exploration
Finding the Right College
These steps will help juniors narrow their college choices,
and will help seniors prepare for the college application process.
Step 1: Research colleges.
Start by asking your school counselor for college-search advice and resources. Here are other things you can do:
Learn about the types of colleges and their degrees.
Talk to admission representatives when they visit your high school.
Attend a College Fair or Educational Planning Program where you can talk to college representatives.
Use our College Profiles to match colleges with your interests.
Another good resource is BigFuture from the College Board.
Explore the websites of colleges that interest you.
Step 2: Go on campus visits.
This is the most important step you can take to determine if a school is the right fit for you!
Start your visits in the spring of your junior year and revisit your top choices in the fall of your senior year.
Contact the admissions office at least two weeks in advance to schedule a campus visit.
Visit while school is in session. You won’t get the full campus experience during school breaks, finals week, or summer.
Meet with an admissions representative and financial aid counselor to discuss how to apply and pay for college.
Ask to meet with faculty in your areas of interest.
Step 3. Narrow your college choices.
Now that you’ve done your research and gone on campus visits, it’s time to compare notes and pick your top college choices. Compare schools based on academic programs, size, location, career preparation, internships, and social climate.
Step 4. Take college entrance exams.
You’ll take the ACT in the spring of your junior year, and you may want to take the SAT as well. Retake the exam(s) in the summer and fall – colleges will use your best score for scholarship and admission decisions.
Visit ACT and College Board for sample questions, test dates, registration, and fees. Click here for test-prep options.
If you attend a community college, you may be required to take the Accuplacer or Companion placement tests.
Step 5. Apply for admission.
Be aware of deadlines and apply to your top 3-4 colleges in the fall of your senior year. Most will require:
The application and fee
Official high school transcripts which will show:
Your grade point average and class rank
That you completed high school coursework
ACT/SAT test scores
If your school conducts an Apply2College event, you’ll get help with your applications during the school day. If not, use our college application checklist and other resources in the sidebar.
Step 6: Select a college.
In the spring of your senior year, compare your top colleges and make your final decision. Then, complete these tasks:
Sign up for your college’s online student account or portal.
Submit the application form and deposit for campus housing.
Register for new-student orientation.
Notify the other schools of your decision and decline their awards.
Apply for student and/or parent loans, if needed.
Helpful resources on creating your college "list" OR how to decide which colleges to visit or apply to...
Below are some of my favorite Search Engines that can be used to sort and compare colleges
- search by school name, location, tuition costs, school type, majors, size, and more
- save schools to your MyCollegeList
- see a side-by-side comparison of colleges
- get more details about each college
You can filter schools by location, selectivity, sports teams and other criteria. Plus, you can indicate tuition costs and your state of residency; the tool will even take into account in-state versus out-of-state tuition.Use College Navigator for a no-frills look at facts and figures.
If you create an account, you can save your favorite colleges and revisit them later.
In addition to its college search engine, College Board offers tips on how to apply for financial aid or explore careers.
You can search through thousands of schools, plus you can estimate your chances of admission based on your GPA and admission test scores.
You can also use the “Cappex fit meter” to gauge whether a college could be a good match for you. The fit meter assigns a percentage to each school-based on your preferences, like school size and tuition cost. If you get 90 percent or higher, the school could be a great fit.
Finally, the site has over 1.4 million student reviews so that you can read about students’ firsthand experiences.
Coll_Chart_web_2022.pdf
Through the Midwest Student Exchange Program, public institutions agree to charge students no more than 150% of the in-state resident tuition rate for specific programs; private institutions offer a 10% reduction on their tuition rates.
You must be enrolling as a non-resident student at a participating MSEP campus to receive the discount.
All enrollment decisions are made at the discretion of the receiving campus and the campus may exercise its right to limit participation or set specific admission requirements for MSEP.
Follow these tips for a successful visit:
Start looking at colleges your junior year so you can narrow your choices by the time you’re a senior.
Explore your career interests. Before you determine which colleges to visit, think about your career interests and then research colleges that fit your interests. Visit the Exploring Careers section at EducationQuest.org for free resources.
Schedule your visits at least two weeks in advance. Ask for appointments with an admissions representative, financial aid counselor, and a faculty member in your area of interest.
Try to visit while the colleges are in session. You won’t get the true flavor during breaks or finals week.
Be prepared with questions to ask. It’s important for YOU to ask questions, not just your mom or dad.
Talk to a faculty member about upper-level classes in your anticipated major. This will help you understand the coursework that will be required and the degree of difficulty.
Ask the financial aid counselor how the college may offset tuition costs and about college-based scholarship applications and deadlines.
If you can’t visit a college, check out college websites. You’ll find admission requirements, academic and financial aid information, and campus photos. Click here for a list of all colleges in Nebraska with links to their websites.
